Printing machine



p 9, 1933. B. FASSMANN PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l m II I a Sept. 19, 1933. B. FASSMANN PRINTING MACHINE1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17 IIIIIIIII) Patented Sept. 19, 1933STATES PATENT GFFEQE PRINTING MACHINE Bruno Fassmann, Tempelhof, Berlin,Germany, 1 assignor to Addressograph Company, Wilmington, Del., acorporation of Delaware Application April 17, 1931, Serial No. 530,759,and in Germany April 24, 1930 10 Claims. (Cl. 271-28) This inventionrelates to printing machines tion-of the peripheryiof an elongatedroller 17 I and more particularly to the feeding of sheets, extends. Theroller 17 is fast on a shaft 18 jourenvelopes, or the like thereinto.naled in the frame members. The rollers 15 may The salient object is tofeed sheets, which term be lowered into cooperation with the rollerl? tois used in the generic sense herein, into a printclamp a sheet to thusinsure movement thereof 59 30 Fig. 2 is a side elevation; I 15 are inthe upper dotted-line position. Thus,

ing machine by a continuously operating mechinto the machine. Journaledin the frame memanism having a dual motion whereby a sheet is hers isthe main drive shaft 19 having a pulley picked up from a stack and thencarried into 20 fast thereon about which a belt is directed, themachine. L said belt also being directed about pulley 22 on Anotherobject is to so support the sheets that the shaft 23 of an electricmotor 24 or other suit 65 the uppermost thereof is so engaged by thedeable source of power. Fast on the drive shaft 19 vices for moving the,same that delivery thereof is a pulley 25 aligned with a pulley 26 faston the is insured. An object, ancillary to the foregoshaft 18 and a,belt 2'? is directed about these ing, is to insure separation of theuppermost pulleys. When the shaft 19 is rotated, movesheet by blowingair between the sheets. ment is imparted to the shaft 18 to rotate theFurther objects of the invention are to pick roller 17 in the directionindicated by the arrow up the sheetsby suction and to break the suconFig. 2. Unitary with arm 12 is an arm 28 tion when the sheet has beendelivered into the having a roller 29 at the lower end thereof thatmachine; to provide suction nozzles for picking is held in engagement,by a spring 30, with the up the sheets which may be held in operative orperiphery of the cam 31 fast on the shaft 19. inoperative positions sothat only as many nozzles Movement is imparted to the arm 28 from the asrequired to pick up a particular sheet function cam 31 to rock the shaft11 and consequently the during operation; and to so support the sheetsarms 12 and 13 to thereby move the rollers 15 to that registrationthereof in the machine is inand from cooperation with the roller 17, theal sured. ternate positions of these rollers being shown in In theselected embodiment of the invention full and dotted lines in Fig. 2.Sheets are picked illustrated in the vaccompanying drawings up from thestack thereof arranged at the .end of Fig. 1 is an elevation looking inthe direction the machine and are moved between the rollers in which thesheets are to be fed; 15 and the roller 17, during the time the rollersFig. 3 is a top plan; when the rollers 15 are lowered the sheet is Fig.4 is a sectional detail view of one of the clamped by the rollers 15against the roller 1'7 p D IIOZZleS, Said IlOZZle being Shown in 0D- tomove the sheet forwardly onto the conveyor erative position; 7 belts 32directed about the pulleys 33 fast on the 35 Fig. 5 is a view, similarto Fig. 4, wherein the shaft 34, which belts travel in the direction ofn zzle i h wn i n p iv p ion; and the arrow on Fig. 2 to thereby carrythe sheet 6 is a perspective detail w O e upper across the work table Tto receive impressions end of one of the guide bars. thereon.-

In the drawings M generally indicates the The means for moving thesheets from the supframe of a printing machine of t yp used fo plythereof into the machine includes the slides addressing purposes or thelike and which is but 35 and 36 -movable on the parallel guide rods 37fragmentally illustratedeinee e articular conand 38 and 39 and 40arranged on opposite sides structionthereof forms no part of myinvention. of the "machine and respectively supported by The machineincludes a work table Tacross the frame members 7 and 8. To insureparallel which-the sheets are fed to have printingjoperamovement of theslides, links 41 and 42 are pivtions performed thereon. The machine alsoinotally connected thereto. These links are also eludes side framemembers 7 and 8, the lower pivotally connected to the cranks 43 and 44fast ends of which are rested on the floor or other on the shaft 45journaled in the hollow shaft 11. suitable support and at the upper endof the Pivotally mounted on the slides35 and 36 are 105 i 50 framemembers are brackets 9 and 10. in which arms 46 and 47 supporting a tube48. The pintle the hollow shaft 11 is'journaled. On the shaft 49 of thearm 46 extends through the slide 35 11 are arms 12 and 13 carrying atthe outer end and fast thereon is an arm 50 carrying a pin 51 thereof ashaft 14 on whichzthe pressure rollers extending into the bifurcation 52in the upper r 15 are rotatablymounted. In the Work table T end of thelever 53 pivotally mounted at 54 on a no a Slot is formedthlollgh whichthe pp r porbracket on the frame member '7. On the shaft 19 is a crankdisc. 55 having a link 56 pivotally connected thereto, which link isconnected at 5'7 to the lever 53 between the pivotal mounting 54 thereofand the bifurcation 52 therein. Thus, when the shaft 19 is rotated thelever 53 is rocked until the bifurcated end thereof engages theadjustable stop pin 53 on the slide 35. Further, movement of the lever53 after engagement of the end thereof with the stop pin 53 reciprocatesthe slides 35 and 36 along the parallel rods on which they are mountedto thereby move the tube 48 from the full-line position of Fig. 2 intothe dotted-line position of said figure. The tube is moved from thedotted-line position of Fig. 2 back into its full-line position by theaction of the spring 35 extending between an arm on the slide 35 and aplate at the rear end of the guide rods 3'7 and 38. The lever 53 lagsthis spring during this latter movement, which is toward the right asviewed in Fig. 2 and therefore the nozzles are held in their upperposition as will be explained.

At spaced intervals on the tube 48 the suction nozzles 58 are mounted.Each of these nozzles have an air passage 59 therein which may bealigned with a port 66 in the tube 48, it being understood that a port60 is provided at each point whereat a nozzle 58 is arranged. In orderto insure alignment of the passage 59 and the port 60, a notch 61 isformed in the periphery of the tube 48. A pin 62 is slidably mounted ina boss on the nozzle 58 and a leaf spring 53 carried by the nozzle bearsagainst the end of this pin to force it toward the notch 61. When,however, it is desired to render one of the nozzles 58 inoperative thesame may be turned about the tube 48 until the pin 62 seats in the notch64 in the periphery of the tube 48 and therefore the passage 59 is movedout of communication with the port 65 and the nozzle is held in thisinoperative position, illustrated in Fig. 5, by the seating of the pin62 in the notch 64.

At the rear of the machine is a supporting frame 65 in which a standard66 is slidably mounted. At the upper end of the standard 66 is aforwardly inclined plate or shelf 6'7, the forward edge of which restsagainst'the guide rods or columns 68, 69 and '70 carried by brackets '71from the supporting frame 65. The sheets S are stacked on the shelf 67and the forward edges thereof engage one or more of the columns 63. Ashaft '71 is journaled in the supporting frame 65 and a bracket on theframe '7 and fast thereon is a pinion 72 meshing with arack '73 on thestandard 66. A ratchet '72, or analogous device, is fast on the shaft'71 and when a ratchet is provided a pawl will be associated therewith,which will be operated in timed relation'with the machine to impart astep-by-step movement to the ratchet to thereby rotate'the shaft '71 andthe pinion '72, and this intermittent movement will be imparted to thestandard 66 to move the same upwardly as sheets are withdrawn from theshelf 6'7 to thus insure proper positioning of the uppermost of the pileof sheets on the shelf.

Adjustably mounted at the upper ends of the columns 68, 59 and '70, asillustrated in Fig. 6, are plates '73 having knife edges '74 thereonprojecting beyond the face of the columns against which the sheets onthe shelf 6'7 abut, and therefore the uppermost of the sheets may beengaged with these knife edges. To insure separation of the sheets, thecolumn 69 is preferably hollow and has slots '75 at the upper endthereof below the plate '73. Air under pressure is forced through thecolumn 69 and out through the slots '75 between the uppermost of thesheets S to thereby insure separation thereof.

Supported from the frame member 8 is a pump '76 including a pitman '7'7eccentrically connected at '78 to a disc '79 fast on the shaft 19. Thepump includes an inlet 86 having a check valve 81 therein and a flexibleconnection 82 extends between the check valve 81 and one end of the tube48. The pump also includes an outlet 83 having a check valve 84 thereinand a flexible connection 85 extends between this check valve and thecolumn 69. On the up-stroke of the pitman '77 the check valve 84 isclosed while the check valve 81 is open and therefore air is drawnthrough the flexible connection 82 to thereby create a suction in thetube 48. On the downstroke of the pitman 7'7 the check valve 81 isclosed while the check valve 84 is open and therefore air is forcedthrough the flexible connection 85 to the columns 69, and this air isdischarged through the slots '75 to separate the sheets as described.

In use, the belt conveyor of the printing machine is set in operationand the sheets S are stacked on the shelf 67, which is so positionedthat the forward edge of the uppermost of the sheets is engaging theknife edges '74. At this time the lever 53 is in rearwardmost positionand the nozzles 58 are engaging the uppermost sheet. Subsequent to thistime the pitman '77 is moved upwardly, thus creating a suction in thetube 48 and the top sheet is clamped against the nozzles by the suction.The lever 53 moves forwardly and rocks the arm 58 to thereby first movethe tube 48 and consequently the nozzles 58 up wardly, and therefore thetop sheet is stripped past the knife edges '74 and the nozzles 58 areturned from the full-line position of Fig. 2 to the dotted-line positionslightly above the full line position as shown in Fig. 2. This movementoccurs immediately after the start of the move-' ment of the lever 53and continues until the end of the lever 53 engages stop pin 53' andafter this engagement and as said lever 53 continues to move toward theprinting machine the sheet picked up by the nozzles is carried forwardlyand passed between the rollers 15 and the roller 1'7 and as soon as thesheet has passed thereby the rollers 15 are lowered to thereby clamp thesheet and therefore it is fed forwardly to the conveyor belt 32 since atthis time the pitman '77 starts to move downwardly, thus interruptingthe suction in the tube 48. As soon as this operation has been completedthe lever 53 again moves rearwardly but the spring 35 acts to urge theslides toward the right as viewed in Fig. 2 and there- ,fore the end .ofthe lever 53 remains in engagement with the pin 53' during thisrearwardmovement. However, when the slides 35 and 36 engage the stops 86and 8'7 at the ends of the parallel guide rods the lever 53 acts topivot the nozzles downwardly into engagement with the topmost sheet andthe parts are in position to repeat the above described operation.During this rearward movement of the lever 53 air is blown through thesheets to insure separation when the nozzles 58 again function as abovedescribed.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of myinvention it is to be understood that this is capable of variation andmodification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails set forth but desire to avail myself of suchchanges andalterations as fall and scope of the following 'ble along said guidemeans, a tube carried bysa id slides, suction nozzles on said tube, andmeans for'turning said tube'to-raise and lower said nozzles in timedrelation with the reciprocation of said slides, said nozzles beinglowered into engagement with the topmost sheet of said stack at the endof movement of said slides in one direction to pick up a sheet to carryit to said clamping rollers.

2. In a printing machine which has means for receiving and carrying asheet therethrough, clamping rollers for feeding a sheet to saidreceiving and carrying means, and means for separating said clampingrollers to permit the insertion of a sheet therebetween, the combinationof means supporting a stack of sheets at one end of said machine, rigidguide means, slides reciprocable along said guide means, a tube carriedby said slides, suction nozzles on said tube, means for turning saidtube to raise said nozzlestimed relation with the reciprocation of saidslides, said nozzles being lowered into engagement with the topmostsheet of said stack at the end of movement of said slides in onedirection to pick up said sheet to carry it to said clamping rollers,and means for creating a suction in said tube and nozzles during theraising movement of said nozzles and for blowing air between the sheetsin said stack during the lowering movement of said nozzles.

3. A printing machine which has means for receiving and carrying a sheetthrough the machine, clamping rollers for feeding a sheet to saidreceiving and carrying means, and means for separating the clampingrollers to permit the insertion of a sheet therebetween, the combinationof means supporting a stack of sheets at one end of said machine, asuction tube, nozzles on said suction tube, a pair of slides, armspivotally connecting said suction tube to said slides, rigid guide meanssupporting the slides for movement between the stack of sheets and saidclamping rollers, operating means for reciprocating said slides alongsaid guide means, and

ing means for engaging and disengaging said,

clamping rollers to permit insertion of a sheet therebetween, thecombination of means supporting a stack of sheets at one end of themachine, a suction tube, nozzles on said suction tube, a pair of slides,arms pivotally connecting the suction tube to the slides, rigid guidemeans for supporting the slides for movement between the stack of sheetsand said clamping rollers, moving means operable with the operatingmeans for said clamping rollers for reciprocating said Slides along saidguide means,and meanscooperating with said moving means.v forpivoting.said arms at-the end of movementofsaiidslidesinone direction to engagesaid nozzles with the topmost sheet and for limiting pivoting of said:arms.;-as effected by said moving means to move said 11oz,- zles in theopposite direction to raise saidztoilmost sheet as the slides move intheopposite die rection'to carry and insert said sheet between theseparatedtclamping rollers whereby as: said slides start to'move towardsaid stacksaid clamping rollers will engage said sheet to move saidsheet onto the receiving and carrying means.

5. In a sheet separating and feeding means for printing machines and thelike, a suction tube having nozzles mounted at spaced intervalstherealong, said tube having ports therein at the places whereat saidnozzles are mounted, said nozzles having passages therein adapted to bealigned with said ports, means for holding said nozzles in positionswhereat the passages therein are aligned with said ports, and means forholding said nozzles in positions whereat the passages therein are outof alignment with said ports.

6. In a sheet separating and feeding apparatus for printing machines andthe like, a plate for supporting a stack of sheets, guide barsassociated with said plate whereby one or more of said guide bars isengaged by sheets mounted on said plate to support said sheets on saidplate, a suction tube, nozzles rotatably mounted on said suction tube atspaced intervals and adapted to engage the topmost sheet of a stack ofsheets on said plate to effect separation of the topmost sheet, saidtube having ports therein at the places whereat said nozzles aremounted, said nozzles having passages therein, and means for holdingsaid nozzles against rotative movement on said tube whereby said nozzlesmay be held in a position whereat the passages therein are aligned withsaid ports in the tube or whereat said passages are out of alignmentwith said ports.

7. In a sheet feeding device, means supporting a stack of sheets, acarrying bar, sheet pick-up means on said carrying bar engageable withthe topmost sheet in said stack, guide means for said carrying bar,means urging said carrying bar in one direction, means for moving thecarrying bar against the action of said urging means and adapted to turnsaid carrying bar at the start of movement thereof, and means forturning said carrying bar at the end of movement imparted thereto bysaid urging means.

' 8. In a sheet feeding device, means supporting a stack of sheets, asupporting bar, suction nozzles on said supporting bar and engageablewith the topmost sheet in said stack, carrying means for said supportingbar, means urging said carrying means in one direction, operating meansfor moving said carrying means against the action of said urging means,means cooperating with said operating means to limit turning of saidsupporting bar at the start of movement thereof against the action ofsaid urging means whereby said suction nozzles are moved away from saidstack of sheets, and means for turning said supporting bar at the end ofmovement imparted to said carrying means by said urging means to engagesaid nozzles with said topmost sheet.

9. In a sheet feeding device, means supporting a stack of sheets, asuction bar, nozzles on said bar and engageable with the topmost sheetin said stack, slide means, means connecting said suction bar to saidslide means, means urging said slide means into a predeterminedposition, operating means for moving said slide means from saidpredetermined position, means cooperating with said operating means forlimiting turning of said stack, guide means, slides mounted on saidguide means, means connecting said suction bar to said slides formovement relative to said slides, means urging said slides into apredetermined position on said guide means, operating means for movingsaid slides along said guide means from said predetermined position andadapted to turn said suction bar at the start of said movement to movesaid nozzles away from said stack of sheets, and means for moving saidnozzles into engagement with the topmost sheet upon return of saidslides to said predetermined position by said urging means.

BRUNO FASSMANN.

